Willamette Finishes Second at NWC Fall Classic, as Rodriguez Places Third
By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SUNRIVER, Ore. -- Willamette University took second place in the team standings and Steven Rodriguez (Sr., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS) placed third on the individual leaderboard, as the 2015 Northwest Conference Fall Classic in men's golf ended on Sunday, Oct. 11, in action on The Woodlands Course at Sunriver Resort.
The Bearcats, who led the tournament after the first round on Saturday, improved by seven strokes on Sunday, but it wasn't enough to match Whitworth University. The Pirates, who carded a 313 in the first round, shot 292 in the second round to win the tournament at 605. Willamette shot 310 and 303 for an overall score of 613.
Pacific Lutheran University earned third place at 628 (323-305). George Fox University took fourth at 633 (328-305) and University of Puget Sound was fifth at 667 (344-323).
Linfield College placed sixth with a score of 669 (337-332), while Lewis & Clark was sevneth at 672 (337-335). Whitman College was eighth at 719 (385-334) and Pacific University took ninth at 728 (364-364).
Oliver Rudnicki of Whitworth won the individual title at 143 by shooting 74-69. His 3-under-par 69 in the second round was the low 18-hole score of the tournament. His brother, Lyle Rudnicki, finished second at 145 (73-72).
Rodriguez of Willamette was third at 151. He shot 77 in the first round and 74 in the second round. Bearcat teammate Peter Mitzel (Jr., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS) finished fourth at 153 by carding 77-76.
Two PLU golfers -- Mitchell Baldridge and Kyle Drugge -- tied for fifth place at 154. Baldridge recorded 78-76, while Drugge shot 81-73. Chase Lamothe (Sr., Corvallis, OR/Corvallis HS) from Willamette was seventh at 155 (79-76). Andrew Dodge of Whitworth placed eighth at 156 (81-75).
Clark Wilson (Jr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) provided the Bearcats with a tie for ninth place. He shot 77-80--157 to match the score of Kelekoilo Moore from Pacific, who shot 80-77-157.
Trent Jones (Fr., Kenmore, WA/Shorecrest HS) of Willamette improved from an 84 in the first round to a 77 in the second round. He tied three other golfers for 14th place. A total of 44 golfers completed all 36 holes.
The NWC Fall Classic is one of three tournaments used to determine the overall NWC Champion. Results from the Fall Classic and the NWC Spring Classic each count for one-fourth of the title. The NWC Tournament, which is held during the spring, counts for the final half.